SPORTS WRAP

Best High School Championship Week: As the weather heats up and the school year winds down, the VHSL state playoffs are loaded with Charlottesville-Albemarle area high schools battling the best teams in state playoffs.

The Western Albemarle Lady Warriors track team concluded an outstanding season by taking runner-up honors at the AA meet at James Madison University in Harrisonburg Saturday, June 4. In just three years of coaching at her alma matter, Carin Ward has racked up championships rivaling those of many Central Virginia teams.

The WAHS lacrosse teams have also elevated their game in the playoffs. The boys' team was the biggest surprise, knocking off a Loudoun Valley team that had won two of the last three state titles and was undefeated in 36 games until the Warriors scored a 10-8 triumph in the Region II championship game Thursday, June 2. The undefeated WAHS girls' team, meanwhile, fell just one goal shy of ultimate glory in a classic showdown with the Rockbridge Wildcats, losing 9-8, Friday, June 3.

On the other side of town, the Albemarle Patriots have maintained their lacrosse dominance as both the boys' and girls' teams won the Northwest Region Championship and earned a shot at a state championship next week. The boys made it look easy, cruising past Woodbridge 16-1 to secure their eighth straight regional championship Saturday, June 4. The Lady Patriots delivered plenty of drama in the final seconds to pull out a 10-9 victory and capture their fourth consecutive regional crown and a trip to the championships.

Finally, on the baseball diamond, the Monticello Mustangs battled through the Region II playoffs to clinch a berth in the state quarterfinals before advancing to the regional championship game and falling to Turner Ashby 12-7, Saturday, June 4.

Worst West Coast Trip: For the second straight year, the UVA baseball team qualified for an NCAA tournament slot with dreams of the College World Series in Omaha. Unlike last season, however, the Wahoos weren't able to host the tournament's opening regional rounds, but had to do battle at Oregon State in Corvallis. Second-seeded UVA (41-20) left everything they had on the field, but unfortunately ended up on the short end of two hotly contested games. Both St. John's and Ohio State managed to come through with key tie-breaking hits and bury the Cavs in a 5-3 loss Friday, June 2 and a 2-1 elimination heartbreaker on Saturday.

Most Determined Champion: Trailing by two shots early in Sunday's final round at Farmington's Kenridge Invitational Golf Tournament, experienced Martinsville amateur champion Keith Decker rallied to overtake the defending tournament champion Steve Liebler (Columbia, SC) and win his 5th Kenridge title in the past 15 years. ÅgI do like the scrapping and fighting, and I love the competition," the 45-year-old All-American Elon alum told The Daily Progress. ÅgI like it in business. I like it in golf. That's the way I was made, I guess.Åh

The Week Ahead

Washigton Nationals Baseball (31-26)

vs. Seattle Mariners (24-31)

June 10 & 11 @ 7:05pm, and June 12 @ 1:05pm

Baltimore Orioles Baseball (34-22)

vs. Houston Astros (21-35)

June 13 & 14, and June15 @ 7:35pm

The boys of summer are out in force as the Nationals and Orioles both stand as division leaders who could make a strong claim for the title of most surprising teams in baseball so far this season. Tickets available through both clubs' ticket offices.